Ideas for beautifying César Chávez toll road requested

Beautification efforts along the new César Chávez toll road will be the main topic of a community meeting Tuesday in the Lower Valley.

After a year of making a request to include some type of landscape and aesthetics, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority have come up with some ideas, said city Rep. Emma Acosta.

Acosta and the Thomas Manor Neighborhood Association will host the community meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Thomas Manor Elementary School, 7900 Jersey, for residents to provide their input for beautification and landscaping along the César Chávez Border Highway.

The $85 million project includes reconstruction of the four existing lanes and construction of two inside express toll lanes from the Zaragoza International Bridge to U.S. 54. It is expected to be completed in 2013.

"It's the first toll road that we have in El Paso and I think it deserves to be landscaped, and I think people who live along that area deserve to have something that is pleasing, not just efficient," Acosta said.

"And for anyone else that travels through our city, they should be able to say, 'wow.' This is a state-of-the-art project, one that beautifies El Paso and one that is efficient for use."

Residents will be able to view the selection of plants, color schemes and lighting along the roadway.

One idea includes beautification and lighting on the overpasses along Fonseca, Midway, Yarbrough and Zaragoza roads, Acosta said.

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Proposed sound-buffering walls, color schemes and the location of the walls to be constructed also will be discussed.

Officials from TxDOT are expected to attend the meeting, which is open to the public.
Aileen B. Flores may be reached at aflores@elpasotimes.com; 546-6362. Follow her on Twitter @AileenBFlores.

Make plans

What: Meeting on landscaping and beautification efforts along the César Chávez toll road.

Who: City Rep. Emma Acosta and Thomas Manor Neighborhood Association.

When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: Thomas Manor Elementary School, 7900 Jersey.

Guest speaker: Bob Bielek, district engineer with the Texas Department of Transportation.